Undoubtedly, you want to find the very best mechanic in the Kent, Washington area to fix your vehicle’s transmission. What does “best” really mean though? Some people think that “best” means cheapest, and they just choose the mechanic who offers them the lowest cost estimate. Others think that “best” means the quickest—they just want to get their transmission repaired and be on their way as soon as possible. The wiser car owners think that “best” means the most experienced and reputable mechanics in the area. Really, though, it’s a combination of all of these things. You want to look for a mechanic who can repair your transmission quickly and properly and at an affordable price. That might seem like a lofty goal, but it’s not as difficult as you might think. Really, finding the right mechanic simply involves a little effort on your part.

First of all, understand that you can’t choose the “best” mechanic if you don’t know what all of your options are. As such, start by compiling a list of the mechanics in the area—there are several. You can easily find mechanics by browsing through the local phone book or doing a quick online search. Your list will likely be quite long, but don’t let yourself get overwhelmed. The next step is to start narrowing down that list and picking out your best options.

You can do this by further researching each of your choices. Yes, this might take a while but it will be well worth it in the end when you have a properly functioning transmission that will last you for years to come. Begin by visiting the source itself–the company website of each auto repair shop. Learn how long the shop has been in business (the longer the better), what kind of credentials the shop has, what (if any) its areas of specialization are, and general costs for transmission jobs. Ideally, you will want to focus on shops that work specifically with transmissions or that have experience with them. You can cross off shops that are too expensive, that don’t have the best mechanics working for them or that, for whatever reason, just don’t give you the right vibe.

Another good thing you can do, particularly if a shop doesn’t have a website, is to search out online reviews written by past or current customers of the shop. A few bad reviews is par for the course for any business, but overwhelmingly negative reviews should warrant a big cross-out on your list. When your list is sufficiently narrowed down, it’s time to contact the remaining shops for an estimate. Choose an estimate that is, of course, within your budget, but don’t base your decision on price alone. Quality is far more important when it comes to these types of jobs, and prices that are too low should make you at least a little wary. Remember, it’s always better to pay a little bit more and get the job done right.